Listen up, this is your business!

“The business of the American people is business.” – President Calvin Coolidge.

It’s hard to believe, but Cardo’s Pizza in Jackson is observing its 30th anniversary this year. In 1989, 22-year-old John Moore used his experience working at a pizza shop in his hometown of Waverly to open a small new pizza shop at 90 E. Broadway St. in Jackson, the current site of Tobacco Unlimited.

As many Jackson Countians realize, Moore made a big success of his new business and later moved into a much larger building at 19 South St., the former home of the old Henry’s Grocery Store. Although not a hometown boy, Moore has respected the history of the building and community with his décor and photos. The large group meeting room in the back is even called “The Henry Room” and has photos of the Henry family who built a great business of their own in Jackson. He also allows school and community groups to raise “tip money” for their organizations by bussing tables and providing personal services to customers.

Moore has also made a major contribution to the Jackson area community with his organizational and management of youth football, soccer, and cheerleading programs through the First Baptist Church of Jackson. Moore founded the program through the template of the national organization, Upward, but this year the program is completely local and is known as Truth, with 233 kids participating.

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Time has also seemingly passed quickly for Wellston resident and businessman Jason Holzapfel, who has built an impressive business success story of his own in less than two decades. Wednesday, April 24, marked exactly 19 years since Holzapfel opened The Store on Broadway and Pennsylvania, at 7 Pennsylvania Ave. in Wellston. The attractive building improved the appearance of a key business block in Wellston as well as providing popular convenience-store items, including Hozer’s Pizza. The new building replaced his father’s old law office and an old gas station/car lot.

Holzapfel later acquired three convenience stores in Jackson, The Filling Station at Main and Bridge streets, Quick Stop Marathon at 430 E. Broadway St., and Handy Mart at 33 S. David Ave.; and each has a different look and varying product line. Holzapfel has proven to be extremely supportive of school, community and civic projects and activities in Jackson County. A current example of his generosity: On, Friday, May 17, The Store will be donating seven cents per gallon of gas sold to the family of 7-year old liver transplant patient, Cade Robinson.

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Marvin’s Gardens Greenhouse, located at 1707 Glade Road west of Jackson and off State Route 32, opened for the season on Monday, April 22, and happens to be celebrating its 25th-year anniversary. The late Marvin Davis ingeniously branched off from the family’s more traditional long-time farming operation to open a retail greenhouse in 1994, which has proven to be quite popular.

Marvin, who was well-known and highly respected, served multiple terms as a Jackson City Board of Education member and later as the fiscal officer of Scioto Township. He passed away several years ago and his high standing in the local area was confirmed by his selection to the Jackson City Schools’ Hall of Honor. The farm and Marvin’s Gardens continues to be operated by Marvin’s surviving family, including his wife, Teresa, and son, Adam and daughters, Amy Newman and Megan Davis.

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It’s great to see the organized efforts in both Jackson and Wellston to bring more folks to the downtown business districts. The Jackson Downtown Association has conducted four First-Thursday events this year, the most recent having a “Picture Yourself in Downtown Jackson” theme last Thursday. The next Second Thursday event will be “Block Party,” on Thursday, June 6.

Meanwhile, the Wellston Main Street organization rolled out the first of its First-Friday events which featured many of the downtown businesses staying open for extended hours until 7 p.m. Organizers suggested checking out the shops, then stopping to dine at one of the downtown eateries. Main Street posted the following comment after the inaugural event: “We just want to give a big thank-you to an amazing community for coming out and supporting our First-Friday event. We will continue to have events on each First Friday.”

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Short Stuff: The Jackson Walmart store has begun a major remodeling project and has hired additional employees to get the job done. The remodeling work is expected to continue through August… The new Gordmans store in Jackson – which will replace the current Peebles store at the Jackson Square Shopping Center – is scheduled to have a Grand Opening on Thursday, June 27… The Kenworth plant at Chillicothe – which provides employment for Jackson and Vinton counties – is expanding with the construction of a new paint facility which will add approximately 100 jobs.

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That’s About It… Be Seeing You.

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